Shared Stories

Laura Garzoli, age 109

Whose story are you sharing?She was elegant, polished, and much venerated for her styling and cosmetics expertise. Laura Righetti Garzoli was a memorable figure at the cosmetics department with the longstanding but long-retired Riley’s Department store in San Luis Obispo. She was infamous for her alabaster Swiss-Italian profile, and cruising around town in her bright-yellow hot rod.

Laura was born in 1905 to Italian-Swiss immigrants Orazio and Gina Donati Righetti on the coast in Cayucos, California. She was Miss Cayucos in 1923 and shortly thereafter brazenly moved to San Francisco to attend Munson Secretarial School. During WWII she served her country as a secretary to the war effort in Utah. It is there that a former childhood friend played matchmaker and orchestrated a blind date with Frank Garzoli. They married and returned to San Luis Obispo to make their home. Tragedy struck when her husband, a motorcycle patrolman was killed. She remained a widow and dedicated to her husband all these years.

After her tenure with Riley’s, Laura struck out on her own, opening a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in the Laguna Center in San Luis Obispo and operated it until her retirement in 1978.

What did she attribute to living such a long life?Laura’s secret for a long life was half a glass of red wine every night after dinner. Although 109, the last time I saw her she took a few minutes to recall who I was, but then the glimmer of remembrance came to her. She told me that her memory was not what it used to be. “I am letting go of some memories so that I can treasure the memories I hold most dear.” As we sat and chatted I reminded myself that I was in the presence of a special woman and to soak in every moment and not let the memory go.

She passed away in 2014 a few months shy of 110 years-old.

Isabelle Shields, age 103

Monday Club member, Idabelle Shields is a most remarkable person. Her stories are wonderful, and what a mischievous sense of humor in the telling. In August, Idabelle will celebrate her 103rd birthday – earning the distinction as our most senior Monday Club member.

She attended high school with Gerald Ford and treasures his autograph in her yearbook.

Two railroad box cars were once called her Gallup, New Mexico “home” when her husband worked for the Santa Fe RR.

She once received a thank-you letter from “Big Thumb Idabelle” – one of several Navajo men she had helped to get their government wages through proxy marriage – for giving him a required last name. “Big Thumb” was confused about his new name and used “Idabelle.” [Some of the men were under the impression that Idabelle had really married them.]

Idabelle loved joining in the Monday Club’s Hi Jinx performances – skits including “Casey at the Bat” to “Bugle Boy of Company B.” And does she love a good joke? Idabelle collects the best to share. At our Club meeting honoring long-time members, she allowed that …” the best part about being 102 is the lack of peer pressure!”

During one of my visits she wondered aloud why she has so much trouble sleeping, and instead lies in bed at night thinking about such things as how to say the alphabet backwards – which Idabelle promptly recited to me quickly and flawlessly. Idabelle is an avid “Spider Solitaire” player, served up on her laptop computer, and a voracious Kindle reader (100 books last year). A marvelous friend and a joy to know, Idabelle Shields has been an active and joyful Monday Club member and our inspiration.

Contributed by Gini Griffin (Monday Club)

Liz Hill at age 20

Whose story are you sharing?I am sharing my grandmother's story for the Lives Well Lived project. She was a maverick. Born in a small town outside of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. Eldest in a Mexican family of nine children. She married at sixteen, and by eighteen, with two small children in tow, moved to Southern California with her first husband. It was the early 1950s and she yearned for something greater. With courage and swagger, she hit Hollywood looking like the southwest’s version of Elizabeth Taylor. Soon after, she left her husband, abandoned her children, and posed for one of the first issues of Playboy Magazine, or so the legend goes. There are unmarked photographs remaining as documentary evidence, but no back-issues to confirm. Her Bohemian spirit led to painting. Her southwest inspired paintings would be collected by many. She saw opportunity and took full advantage. She passed her passion for life on to me and my daughter.

What was her advice for life? Take risks and there is no failure in life.

am a creative woman who was/is always excited and ready to try new things. I innovated businesses, created art, was involved in music, enjoyed buying and selling things as a way of income.

I'm a fighter for people's rights and for animals who can't speak for themselves. I have accomplished much in my life and have written a book about some of it.

What is your definition of a life well lived?A life well lived is someone who has not only accomplished many things in life, but has given to those less fortunate - both people and animals.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?Besides having two wonderful children. I am proud of the fact that I have had over 50 stories I have written about people in my community published in a local magazine.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?Probably good genes, and some reason I'm still here at this age to do something special.

What do you wish younger people understood about life?To not always expect everything handed to them and to work and accumulate money to buy what they want instead of spending it first.

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?An open mind to learning new things and giving up some things that may have been important but are not important any longer.

How do you feel about your own mortality?Had a massive heart attack about a year and half ago and was gotten to hospital in time and then had a long recovery back to almost where I was. I never know if I have another 10 minutes or 10 years, but do know the end of my life is not too far off. Makes me sad not to have all the precious moments I had any longer.

What do you look forward to? What's next?Have no idea what's coming next, but my attitude is to keep on keeping on and do whatever I want with a minimum of stress.

What is your secret for living a Life Well Lived?Having a good sense of humor, to be as giving as I can, live as healthy as I can and have chocolate every day!

Photo courtesy of: Ruth Starr

Art Troutman, age 89

Born and raised on grandparent's [German immigrants] farm in Western PA. Served in US Navy during WWII. Attended Engineering College of The University of Detroit under GI Bill. Was Avionics Engineer at Lockheed Aircraft for 37 years. Retired in '87. Moved to Cambria CA in 1988, with wife Trudy. Was Tour Guide at Hearst Castle for 21 years. Retired [again!] in 2012. Became a docent at Hearst Castle Visitor Center in 2013. Also became a docent/guide at San Simeon [CA] Elephant Seal Rookery in 2012.

What is your definition of a life well lived?To take advantage of opportunities in education, vocational career[s!], avocational involvements, avenues of service, to resist becoming 'too retired', cultivate friendships. and continue 'living' [in the fullest sense of the term].

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?As a youth leader in church, Young Life, YMCA, and schools - having the privilege of impacting young lives, in their formative years - then having the pleasure of seeing your efforts 'bear fruit' - as they move into adulthood.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?Caring for my health and well being, responsibly!

What do you wish younger people understood about life?To discern - from observing my peers, including myself - as to their values - and the way that they have lived their lives - as a way to transmute timeless wisdom - that is difficult [and perhaps impossible] to convey to the next generation - by conventional means [books, etc].

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?Studying others - that have 'qualifying credentials' - such as John Muir, Pierre Tehard de Chardin, Thomas Merton, Karl Jung, Sir Earnest Shackleton, The Dalai Lama, etc. Also, studying the philosophies of indigenous peoples, such as Native American, Mayan, Incan, Maori's, aboriginals, etc.

How do you feel about your own mortality?In studying 'possibilities' - I'm eager to learn - 'who was right' and 'whow as wrong'!

What do you look forward to? What's next?What's around the next corner.

What is your secret for living a Life Well Lived?If I had one - and I shared it here - it would no longer be a secret!

David Lander, age 80

David Lander was born in 1933 in New York a stone’s throw from the water’s edge. His search for adventure led him to the water where he found a mentor who took him under her wing and “allowed” him to scrub, sand and varnish her boat in return for sailing lessons. He took to sailing like a fish takes to water; and he was sailing before he was 9 years old. And the rest is history! At 16, he became the youngest crew on a racing yacht in the St. Petersburg, Florida to Havana, Cuba Race. By 18 he was an accomplished sailor and was offered a unique opportunity to deliver a sailboat to South America; but Uncle Sam’s call to arms encouraged him to join the Navy to see the world, but he mostly saw the inside of an engine room. On his occasional venture on shore, he was recruited for the Navy sailing team!

In 1973 David embarked on his dream to build a boat. With plans in hand, an empty warehouse near the water’s edge, he built his dream sailboat a 56 foot ketch named “Sueno”. It took him 3 years to build the bare bones boat. “Sueno” has taken him hundreds of thousands of miles across oceans, bays and rivers including a transatlantic crossing.

Today Sueno is moored at the City of Hollywood Marina in Florida ready for more adventure!

How old are you?80 this year in October

What three things should I know about you?I am tenacious, I am adventurous, honest and tell the truth.

What is a fun or interesting fact about you?I’ve lived on a boat all my life and sailed since I was 9 years old

What did you do for a living before you retired?The same thing, I always sailed

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?My lifestyle of sailing and always living out in nature.

What is your definition of a life well lived?To be satisfied in the end, that you have done everything that you wanted to do.

What is your secret for a happy life?To be content with yourself.

What has been most instrumental in shaping our life?Sailing

How are you the same and how are you different than you were earlier in life?I have the same beliefs as I did when I was younger; somewhat more content.

What about your environment, family and friends best supports you?My wife is my best supporter

What accomplishment are you most proud of?Building Sueño and being able to support myself from my sailing adventures.

What do you wish younger people understood about life?They should get up and experience life, stop thinking someone else is going to do for them or pay for them.

What is one thing that people shouldn’t worry about?Their fears

What is your greatest passion? How has that changed over time?Sailing—slowed down over time

What do you most regret?Nothing

What do you think about your own mortality?I think it’s getting closer

What do you enjoy most in life right now?My wife and my boat

What do you look forward to? What’s next?Staying alive

Marilyn Ruiz, age 75

How old are you?I don't look at how old I am, I have lived for seventy-five years.

What three things should I know about you?I have lived a very blessed life with highs and lows and each experience is a learning experience. I am grateful for the lows because they have taught me how to forgive and to move forward. The lows have also taught me that I am not alone—no one escapes some tragedy in life. The highs have given me joy, freedom, laughter and an appreciation for life.

What is a fun or interesting fact about you?A fun fact about me is that I am not at all a daredevil, but when I was in my fifties I jumped in tandem out of an airplane. I had always wanted to know what it would be like to fly like a bird and that what the closest I could get. I felt like an eagle!

What did you do for a living before you retired?I was a homemaker and still am. When my youngest child was in Junior High I worked retail and worked that until recently.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?Good genes and being positive about life. Trying to stay active, enjoying life and being happy and blessed with good genes, health and the good example of my mother.

What is your definition of a life well lived?My definition of a life well lived is family and being positive. Taking each day as it comes. Not living in fear and anger.

What is your secret for a happy life?The last words from my husband before he slipped into a coma were "All there is—is love". A happy life is to live in that zone of love, to appreciate all of your surroundings and to be with family and friends.

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?When I look back, when I was a little child we would go to the movies and they would show newsreels before the movie. A picture of Gandhi showed up. His image always stood in my mind. I didn't really understand what he stood for, but as I grew older and learned his message and teachings they resonated with me. Primarily his message that one is able to protest and to have compassion for those people you are protesting against. His teachings and his message of non-violence have deeply influenced my life.

How are you the same and how are you different than you were earlier in life?I think that my values and my essence are the same as when I was young. My primary value is family and this has remained stable throughout my life. I am different in my ability to see life in a larger perspective and to not be judgmental about people, to not be bound up by fear and anger. Fear and anger keep us from being our best selves. I am different in my ability now to have reached an age where I have the ability to live outside of my head and to not worry. That is a blessing. 99.9% of what I used to worry about was all in my head, it didn't really exist and my worries never materialized.

What about your environment, family and friends best supports you?My immediate environment…I live downstairs in a nice apartment and my son and daughter in law live upstairs in an apartment. I am therefore surrounded by love, which gives me freedom and security. I am supported by being able to watch my grandchildren—who are interested in the global environment and choosing to live their lives productively. This is a blessing, to watch the young people.

What cultural events or technological changes have been the most significant in your lifetime?The most significant change I have experienced in my lifetime is nuclear development. Seeing how it has developed and grown, unfortunately, not for the good of mankind.

What do you wish younger people understood about life?That is a loaded question! I wish younger people understood to just live each day and to be kind to one another. To be able to see people as individuals and to see our differences. To learn about different cultures and to know we are all the same. I wish for younger people to have respect for yourself, to love yourself and to know that you are truly loved.

What is one thing that people shouldn’t worry about?Getting older! It's going to happen. Don't worry! Don't worry about the future or the past. Stay in the moment! There is really nothing worth worrying about.

What is the best advice you ever got? Did you take it?When I was in my forties a friend of mine thought we should go back to school together. I looked into it and didn't do it. I regret that.

What do you enjoy most in life right now?I enjoy a good cup of coffee, a walk, being with family and friends. I take care of my youngest Grandson twice a week and he keeps me young! I enjoy doing my art projects, cooking and living!

What do you look forward to? What's next?I have no idea what is next, but I am going to be open to enjoying it—whatever or whoever comes into my life. But I am not going to join Match.com!

Contributed by: Marcy Israel

Joe Jennings, age 94

How old are you? I am 94 years old.

What three things should I know about you?I was born in 1921, Jonesboro Arkansas, an agricultural town. My family was a family of four, consisting of my parents and my brother. We moved a lot until I was in the second grade, because my father had to move the family where he could find work. My father was a structural ironworker and moved my family where there was work.

In 1928 my family moved to Van Nuys, California and I was raised in California up until college years. I went to Carnegie Institute of Technology, CMU, in Pittsburg, on the GI Bill. I went there to get my Masters in Theater Arts.

My father was in the CB’s, Construction Battalions, a branch of the Navy. He was killed in WWII. He served in Guadalcanal and Gilbert’s Islands, located in the South Pacific.

I was in the service, when my father died. My mother was lonely when my brother and I enrolled in WWII, following my father’s footsteps. So she chose to work in a government hospital.

My brother was stationed in Calcutta India, as my wife was before I knew her. I was in the US Coast Guard, which became under the command of the Navy during WWII and I fought the battle of Tarawa in the South Pacific (which was the first time the US Navy had attempted a battle from the sea) and the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in the Philippians.

I grew up wanting to be an actor. So I got my degree in the arts to further my passion, at CMU. I worked as a set designer, art director, and a production designer. As a production designer I was responsible for the visual look of the entire show, i.e. scenery, costumes etc. I worked about 40 years in the show business industry. I worked 8 years as an art director on Gun Smoke, along with Routes One as an art director. I worked for 9 months as a production designer in Japan on Show Gun.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?I can’t think of any one thing. I think that being able to do what you are interested in for a living is what has given me a long and happy life. We should do what we love!

What is your definition of a life well lived?It is important to be happy and constructive in what you do.

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?My wife says that she is the most instrumental in shaping my life and I agree.

How are you the same and how are you different than you were earlier in life?As I became older I was more realistic and less dreamy. I’ve become more practical as I have grown up into adulthood and the process of raising and supporting my family.

What about your environment, family and friends best support you?The love and care of my wife and son’s family are what best support me. Also my ability to be independent and live where I choose has given me joy.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?I’m most proud of my successful career and my healthy family. I’m proud of doing what has made me happy in my life.

What cultural events or technological changes have been the most significant in your lifetime?Not any one thing, all the advancements that had an effect on my career were gradually applied, as I developed along with the industry of production.

What do you wish younger people understood about life?In thinking about my grandson, I would hope that he would want to get involved in the act of living by following his passions.

Is there something you wish you had known as a younger person?I always felt that I could do things and thought I was always capable and knew the answers or how to get them.

What is one thing that people shouldn’t worry about?People should not worry about their age.

What is your greatest passion? How has that changed over time?My career.

What do you think about your own mortality?What will be will be. Que sera sera.

Do you experience ageism?I do not experience ageism. I only feel the effects of being older and loosing my strengths.

What do you enjoy most in life right now?Being alive and my family.

What do you look forward to? What's next?Doing what I’m doing now.

Jean Jennings, age 96

How old are you? I am 96 years young and have a smile on my face every day and great attitude about life.

What three things should I know about you?1) I worked during World War II with Melvin Douglas’ traveling shows entertaining GI’s in India from 1938 to 1940.

2) I was an entertainer, able to dance, act and sing.

3) I was born in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in New York City. I work at 18 years old to help support my family. My father had a hard time keeping a job and supporting our family.

4) Later in life after marriage I got into the antique business in Sherman Oaks.

What is a fun or interesting fact about you?Traveling shows during the war were my passion. I was in charge of a troop of performers. I enjoyed traveling during the war and seeing new places, even though they were tough times. I was happy to be out of New York City, a place that I never really liked living.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?I always keep a sense of humor about life and find things to smile about.

What is your definition of a life well lived?Family is the key to a life well lived. I am so very proud of my family: my husband, our marriage, my son and daughter in law, and my grandson.

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?My move to Los Angeles, California was most instrumental. I traveled to L.A. before I knew my husband. I traveled by truck in the late 1940’s. I drove straight to L.A. and in those days I would sleep in the vehicle overnight because I had little money for a hotel. It took two and a half weeks to travel from N.Y. to L.A.

Once in L.A., I was looking for work in entertainment, however work was sparse.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?I am most proud of my family, my husband, son and grandson. I am proud of my involvement in the war with the Red Cross. I also am proud of being in the antique business, which I got involved in because my parents had left me with a lot of things, which helped spark my second career later in life.

What is your secret for a happy life?A secret I have for a happy life is to be willing to smile about tough situations that come your way, and to be able to keep a good attitude about the future.

Emily Pfitsch, age 90

How old are you?90

I was born on a farm in Overbrook, Kansas. My father during the Depression owned his own farm, and he was very wise in his business management. He and my grandfather and other Democratic friends started a second bank because "they realized that the Republican bank during the Depression did not loan money to people who needed it." Helping others was the way I grew up. I went to college at the University of Kansas. The academic decisions I made then were not what I was interested in but they seemed to be the logical thing to do. John Pfitsch and I were married in 1946. The combination of John and myself produced three absolutely fabulous children. We moved to Midland College, Nebraska and after 2 difficult years there, he was fortunate to get a coaching job at Grinnell College in Iowa in 1948. We moved our family to Grinnell, and he had a successful career coaching at Grinnell for fifty years. I began to teach Spanish in the public schools in 1964, and retired in 1988. We built our house in 1957 in which I still live. John passed away in 2012.

What is your definition of a life well lived?My growing up years were difficult. Life was hard for my parents during the depression and I think that growing up in hard times without modern conveniences has prepared me to be appreciative. It taught me to not have great expectations and wishing for things that I don't have. I don't need stuff. My family was loving and very reinforcing as I grew up and got married and had my own life. I always felt a lot of love and appreciation from my own family.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?My home and my family. I will say that I believe that my inspiration to create a comfortable home [is something I am most proud of.] I drew the plans for this house and I have remodeled it several times through the years. At each stage I felt a lot of success, so that the family, everyone of them loved to come back here for gatherings in the summer and at Christmas. It is extremely rewarding for me to have the family come here and be together. If I want to take credit as the main person that made this happen, I would do that.

What do you attribute to living as long as you have?I believe that early in life I began to appreciate healthy living. I started exercising seriously when I was in my forties and realized that walking up the stairs made me out of breath. I realized that I was allowing myself not to be fit. At that time I started jogging and exercising. Five days a week was the way I started out. I keep exercising, maintain a healthy diet and watch my weight. Especially with this business of breaking my hip, I was reinforced by the professionals that were dealing with me. They were so surprised at how fit I was at my age.

What do you wish younger people understood about life?This is really difficulty because in my own experience with my children and some of my students, I have always felt that I learned more from them than they learned from me.

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life?I believe that at every age I know that I have been very interested in and determined to learn. for example when Bill, my youngest son started pre-school, I immediately looked at the college course offering and determined course that I could audit at the college and scheduled when I was free. I audited classes and then I started taking classes for credit. I learned Spanish and got my teaching certificate. I benefited a great deal from always trying to plug into opportunities for learning. And being very very lucky that John got this job at Grinnell College.

What do you look forward to? What's next?That's hard. I guess I look forward to maintaining the relationships with family and friends and hopefully being able to continue on. I hope I don't live too long. I definitely hope that I continue to be well physically and mentally for the rest of my life.

What is your secret for living a Life Well Lived?I don't think there's a secret. It's right out there. Luck. And making good decisions along the way.

Vera Foss, age 63

What is your secret for living a Life Well Lived?It is important that we live the life we do have and make the best out of what we have. We must adapt constantly, be flexible and understanding. I know there are no guaranties in life, and I am accepting of others without trying to ever change them.

What do you wish younger people understood about life? That they can learn so much from their elders if they would only take time to listen. It is much better than thinking they have all the answers. The need to be open to other people's ideas, suggestions, instead of learning the hard way, i.e. from their own mistakes.

Phyllis Meyers, age 85

What is your definition of a life well lived?A life well lived to me is one of purpose. A life you can look back on and say, "I made a difference in this world, as small as it may have been."

What has been most instrumental in shaping your life? My dad and his love of animals, nature and his zest and appreciation of life.

How do you feel about your own mortality?I have questions that have not been answered such as will I really cross the Rainbow Bridge and see all the animals I have loved in life.

Harold Minuskin, age 78

Holocaust survivor, Harold Minuskin, was born in 1938 in Zhetel, Poland, now part of Belarus. He was three years old when the Germans invaded his predominately Jewish town with the intent to kill all Jewish citizens. Harold and his mother, father and younger brother survived by escaping into the Belorussian forests where they joined up with the Jewish Partisan resistance fighters. For almost three years they were hunted and lived in fear, without adequate food, shelter, medicine, or clothing. After the war, they traveled through Europe to a Displaced Persons camp in Germany run by the American Red Cross. They immigrated to the USA in 1946. Harold grew up in the Bronx and went on to obtain a BS and MS in engineering, and a successful career in aerospace and state-of-the-art space science. Harold now serves as ‘his mother’s voice’ through his self-published book, "My Children, My Heroes – Memoirs of a Holocaust Mother," and his continued presentations to students from middle schools through university levels, plus others, retelling his family’s remarkable WWII survival story with the Jewish Partisans. Please see website for more information and photos: www.holocaust-memoirs.webnode.com

What is your definition of a life well lived?In my case, a l life well lived became a lesson on how to overcome adversity, even when the odds are stacked against you.

I have lived the “American Dream.” At the age of eight, I arrived in the United States without knowing its language or culture. Through the efforts and encouragement of my parents, I worked hard and received a higher education and went on to a successful career as an electrical engineer. Since retirement, I have shared my family’s life story with, to date, over 10,000 Arizona students and educators. I also speak before business and religious organizations.

What is your secret for living a Life Well Lived?Enjoy every hour and every day. Enjoy your family and friends; it’s never too late to make new friends. Don’t let life’s adversities stop you. And keep learning.

What is the accomplishment you are most proud of?I am fortunate to be able to continue to tell the story of my mother’s perseverance, courage and fortitude that kept my younger brother and me alive during the Nazi’s attempt to murder every Jew in our small Belorussian village. Sharing this story with the next generation is my goal so that when the witnesses to WWII are gone, these students can continue telling the history of the brave partisans who fought back.

I have documented the stories of the Jewish partisans in two self-published books. One book contains my translation from Yiddish to English of my mother's wartime experiences and includes my own memories. The other book is by my cousin, with my translations and annotations. He was a 12-year-old spy for the Jewish Partisans.